Cuff link



May 15, 1962 H. A. BERLINER CUFF LINK Filed March 9, 1960 INVENTOR. flzzzy H. Berliner ATTORNEYS nite States This invention relates generally to cuff links, and more particularly to the type of cuff link comprising two cultengaging members secured together by an elastic link.

Previous attempts have been made to devise a link of this nature, but difficulties have been encountered in developing one which is simple and economical enough in construction and not susceptible to breakage or mechanical failure.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide a cuff link which is formed as a single unit and which comprises two elastically interconnected cufi-engaging members.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cuff link comprising 'two interconnected cuff-engaging members, one or both of which is mounted for pivotal movement into a position perpendicular to its normal position and locked in this position to facilitate entry in the appropriate openings of a shirt cufi.

Another object is to provide a cuff link comprising elastically interconnected cud-engaging members wherein the interconnection permits a considerable expansion of the normal distance between the cuff-engaging members so that the link may be installed in a shirt cufi prior to insertion of the wearers hand therethrough.

Another object is to provide a cuff link of the type described having sufficiently resilient characteristics so that the cuff-engaging members are readily drawn apart, thus minimizing the stresses of stretching at the cuff slots.

Still another object is to provide a cud link of the type described which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, attractive in design, and readily repaired if broken.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation illustrating a cufi" link constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention installed on a shirt cufi;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

- FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the cuff link shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one portion of the cuff link construction.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, the cuff link, generally indicated by the numeral 1, is adapted for installation in the aligned slots 3 of a conventional shirt cuff, such as that illustrated in dotted lines at 5 in FIG. 1. The link comprises two opposed cuff-engaging members 7 and 9 adapted to engage the opposite outer surfaces of the cufi in the area of slots 3. A thin sinuous spring 11 is secured rigidly to-the inner face of one cuff-engaging member 7 as by soldering 13, or the like. At the other end of spring 11 the cuff-engaging member 9 is pivotally mounted in any suitable manner. For example, the spring end may pass through two or more loops 15 formed on the rear surface of cuff-engaging member 9. An enlarged portion 17 may be formed at the end of spring 11 to maintain it in position.

The hinge-forming loops 15 are mounted centrally on the inner face of cuff-engaging member 9 and at one side thereof a clip member 19 is mounted. Clip member atent ice.

19 includes a flat base portion 21 secured by any suitable means to the inner face of cull-engaging member 9 and terminating at either end in inwardly projecting legs 23. Legs 23-are resilient and include outwardly turned portions 25 so that they may be readily clipped over a plurality of loops of the sinuous wire 11 when the member 9 is pivoted from its normal position, as indicated in full lines in FIGS. 3 and 4. The normal position is shown in dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 4.

Thus, in operation, the cuff link may be readily inserted in the aligned slots 3 before the wearers hand has passed through the cuff. The member 9 being placed in the pivoted position described hereinabove, generally aligned with spring 11, to facilitate insertion. After passing through the slots 3, the member 9 can be readily returned to its normal position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 for normal usage.

While the present description has been limited to one embodiment of the invention, it will be readily seen that numerous changes and modifications in construction and design can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A cuff link comprising; two cuff engaging members; a sinuous, extensible, elastic wire link lying in a single plane interconnecting said cuff-engaging members, at least one of said members being mounted for pivotal movement on an axis co-planar with said wire link from a position wherein said members are disposed in parallel relationship to a position wherein said one member is disposed in substantially perpendicular relationship with respect to the other of said members, said link including a plurality of undulations lying entirely in the space disposed between said members when said members are disposed in parallel relationship and being smaller in vertical dimension than either of said members; and a clip member having resilient legs secured to said one member and adapted to engage the extremities of said undulations at opposite sides of said extensible link when said one member is disposed in substantially perpendicular relationship to the other of said members. I

2. A cufi link for use in fastening a shirt cuff having its end portions in overlying relation with aligned slots therethrough, said cufi link comprising: a sinuous spring composed of a plurality of substantially uniform undulations lying in a single plane adapted to pass through said aligned slots, cuff-engaging members secured to the opposite ends of said sinuous spring and adapted to overlie said cuff end portions on the exterior faces thereof in the vicinity of said slots, said spring being of such dimensions as to lie entirely in the space disposed between said members whereby said spring may be passed through said aligned slots without being distorted, at least one of said cuff-engaging members being hingedly secured to the respective end of said sinuous spring for pivotal movement on an axis co-planar with said undulations between a position perpendicular to said spring and a position generally aligned therewith; and clip means mounted on the rear wall of said hingedly secured cud-engaging member adapted to engage the extremities of said undulations at opposite sides thereof, whereby said hingedly secured member may be retained in generally aligned relationship with said spring.

3. A cuff link comprising: two cuff-engaging mem bers; a sinuous, extensible spring wire link lying in a single plane, the opposite ends of said link interconnecting said cuff-engaging members and being of such dimensions as to lie entirely in the space disposed between said members when said members are disposed in parallel relationship, said link including a plurality of undulations and being smaller in-vertical dimension than either 3 of said members, at least one of said members being mounted for pivotal movement between a position perpendicular to said plane of said spring wire link to a position substantially aligned with respect to said link on an axis co-planar with ,said sinuous link; and clip. means attachedto the rear wall of said one memberv for securing saidone member .to said undulations in substantially members.

References Gited in the file of this patent ,UNITED STATES PATENTS Dodd June 9, 1908 'Lines Mar. 31, 1925 Dupuis Aug. 25, 1925 Murchie Oct. 6, 1931 Lewis June 13, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Feb. 9, 1918 

